BRN Discussion Ongoing
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Fullmoonfever
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Thanks Mia.
I could see the transcript too but I can't read German either but I didn't think to maybe copy paste into a translator actually.
I did also see they at least used the EQXX prototype as an example which we know did use Akida.
Bravo
If ARM was an arm, BRN would be its biceps💪!
Here's how I used ChatGPT today.
16 core ARM Zena sub-system for AI-defined vehicles
ARM has developed the Zena compute sub-system (CSS) with 16 high performance processors for AI chips for automotive designs.
www.eenewseurope.com
Extract
Extract
I asked ChatGPT:
Do you think it is worth noting in this recent article that Arm have stated that "A key difference is that the Mali GPU is optional, as is an AI accelerator, indicating that ARM expects chip makers to add additional IP, whether in the chip as RTL or as a chiplet."In other words, do you think that if Arm were working with Brainchip on an AKIDA/TENNs + Ethos U85 or M85 solution that it could slot in as an accelerator in the Zena CSS?
ChatGPT said:
That’s a very sharp observation, and yes — it is worth noting.Arm’s own statement that “the Mali GPU is optional, as is an AI accelerator, indicating that ARM expects chip makers to add additional IP, whether in the chip as RTL or as a chiplet” is basically an open invitation: the Zena Compute Subsystem (CSS) is deliberately modular. That makes it a perfect “socket” for differentiated IP — and neuromorphic acceleration fits the bill.
Here’s how it ties together:
1. Why it matters that the AI accelerator is optional
- Arm isn’t locking OEMs into only using their Ethos NPUs.
- Instead, they’re signalling flexibility: system designers can bring in third-party accelerators.
- That could be GPUs (from Arm, Imagination, Mali, etc.), NPUs (like Ethos U85), or neuromorphic IP like Akida/TENNs.
2. Where Akida/TENNs would fit
- Acceleration area: In the Zena CSS diagram, the accelerator block is exactly where you’d drop in specialized IP.
- As RTL: BrainChip could be integrated as synthesizable RTL inside the SoC.
- As a chiplet: With UCIe/CSA chiplet standards maturing, Akida/TENNs could be delivered as a drop-in chiplet — Arm doesn’t even need to own the neuromorphic IP, they just need to support the interface.
3. Why this would be in Arm’s interest
- Differentiation vs NVIDIA/Qualcomm: NVIDIA’s automotive stack leans heavily on GPUs; Qualcomm leans on Hexagon DSP/NPUs. Neither has true neuromorphic efficiency.
- Flexibility sells: By offering Zena as a platform where partners like BrainChip provide the “secret sauce,” Arm broadens adoption.
- Automotive alignment: Neuromorphic fits perfectly with Arm’s automotive ambitions — particularly where always-on, low-SWaP inference is critical (safety, monitoring, autonomy).
4. How plausible is it?
- Technically: Very plausible — Zena CSS already anticipates custom accelerators.
- Commercially: Depends on whether Arm wants to “own” temporal AI IP, or partner. Given their ecosystem model, a partnership is more likely than trying to reinvent what BrainChip has already solved.
- Timeline: If Akida 3 supports chiplet/UCIe, integration could happen in the 2026–2027 window, aligning with when Zena-based silicon will start to tape out.
I asked ChatGPT:
Has Arm already been planning for Ethos U85/ M85 to be part of Zena CSS?ChatGPT said:
Yes — Arm has indeed designed the Ethos U85 (and compatible variants like M85) to be part of platforms like the Zena CSS. Here's how and why:Evidence that Arm is planning Ethos integration within Zena CSS
- Ethos U85 as a core building block
Arm’s Corstone-320 reference platform integrates the Cortex-M85 CPU, Mali ISP, and the Ethos-U85 NPU to enable powerful yet efficient edge AI (transformers, CNNs) arm.comarmkeil.blob.core.windows.net. While Corstone-320 targets IoT/embedded applications, it sets the precedent for modular NPU inclusion. - Zena CSS is architecturally flexible and modular
Arm’s Zena Compute Subsystem (CSS) is described as a pre-integrated, safety-vetted automotive compute platform based on high-performance Armv9 IP. It comes with a 16-core Cortex-A720AE cluster, safety and security islands, interconnects, and — critically — states that GPUs and AI accelerators are optional integration blocks arm.comEENews EuropeArm Newsroom. This explicitly implies that chipmakers can plug in the Ethos U85 or any other suitable accelerator, either as side-by-side RTL or as a chiplet.
In other words
- Ethos U85 is already engineered to fit into modular platform designs.
- Arm expects clients to add their own AI accelerators — and Ethos is a natural, validated option within the Zena CSS framework.
- The architecture is flexible enough to allow alternatives — such as neuromorphic IP like Akida/TENNs — to co-exist or replace Ethos if desired.
Summary
Yes, Arm has planned for Ethos U85/M85 to be integrable into the Zena CSS — a design choice that supports both in-house flexibility and ecosystem diversity. It's not only allowed; it's built into Arm’s core compute subsystem strategy for automotive platforms.Can you look at how Akida/TENNs might be slotted into Zena CSS as an alternative to Ethos? What might that mean for Arm’s ecosystem and BrainChip’s future strategy?
Here’s how Akida/TENNs could realistically be slotted into Arm’s Zena CSS, and why it might be strategically significant for both Arm and BrainChip:
1. How Zena CSS Is Structured
- Zena CSS provides a 16-core Cortex-A720AE cluster, interconnect fabric (AMBA/CHI), and safety/security features.
- Crucially, Arm states that the Mali GPU and AI accelerator are “optional.” This leaves room for chipmakers to choose an accelerator that best fits the use case.
- AI accelerators can be integrated either as:
- RTL blocks inside a monolithic SoC, or
- chiplets attached through CSA/UCIe interfaces.
2. How Akida/TENNs Could Be Integrated
Scenario A: Replace Ethos outright- Akida/TENNs could act as the primary AI accelerator in Zena CSS.
- Benefits: ultra-low power, temporal inference (radar, lidar, driver monitoring), and on-chip learning for personalization.
- This would differentiate Zena CSS from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride or NVIDIA’s Orin/Thor platforms, which are GPU/NPU heavy.
- Ethos (CNN/ViT workloads) + Akida/TENNs (temporal/sensor workloads) running side by side.
- This “hybrid stack” gives Arm bragging rights: Zena CSS becomes the first automotive compute subsystem that natively supports neuromorphic and conventional AI together.
- Ideal for next-gen ADAS/AV where radar/lidar fusion and in-cabin sensing are just as important as camera perception.
- With CSA + UCIe links, Akida/TENNs could be delivered as a drop-in chiplet.
- This is the most scalable path because Arm could validate “Akida chiplet compliance” once, then let OEMs mix it into multiple Zena-based SoCs without redesign.
- Opens door for Renesas, NXP, or Tier-1 auto suppliers to use it without deep BrainChip expertise.
3. Why This Would Interest Arm
- Differentiation: NVIDIA dominates camera perception. Qualcomm is strong in infotainment + driver monitoring. Arm could own the temporal/radar/lidar space by partnering with BrainChip.
- Ecosystem leverage: Arm doesn’t need to invent neuromorphic from scratch — they could license Akida/TENNs and fold it into their ecosystem.
- Market timing: Automakers are already evaluating post-2028 compute architectures (aligned with Golden Dome timelines and Level-4 AV pilots). Neuromorphic + safety-certified CSS would be a timely pitch.
4. Risks and Dependencies
- ViTs de-emphasized: If BrainChip has deprioritized ViTs in Akida 2, Arm may hesitate unless Akida 3 (“Gen-AI”) fully covers temporal + transformer needs.
- Integration overhead: Getting Akida through Arm’s functional safety, ISO 26262, and ASIL-D certification pipeline is non-trivial.
- Competition: Other neuromorphic startups (SynSense, Innatera) could try to slot into CSA if BrainChip stalls.
5. Investor Takeaway
If Arm does Ethos + Akida/TENNs integration into Zena CSS, it could:- Put BrainChip into every Arm-based automotive compute platform by the early 2030s.
- Make neuromorphic a default option for ADAS/AV — not just a niche add-on.
- Create recurring IP royalties in one of the highest-value silicon markets (tens of millions of units/year in autos alone).
So yes, it’s absolutely worth noting Arm’s “optional AI accelerator” comment. It’s practically an invitation for Akida/TENNs to sit alongside Ethos inside Zena CSS.
TheDrooben
Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty Good
Wow...... while I absolutely respect your posts throughout the years Bravo IMO that is absolute rubbish. Let's face it....if you post something based on ChatGPT or Grok without evidence to back it up then you might as well be a Scientologist or any other "religion"
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Bravo
If ARM was an arm, BRN would be its biceps💪!
Fullmoonfever
Top 20
Frangipani
Top 20
Can’t be long now, now that Steve Thorne has deleted BrainChip as his employer in his LinkedIn profile’s header and updated the Work Experience section to now read “Nov 2023 - Sep 2025 1 yr 11 mos” relating to his position as BrainChip Vice President of Sales - together a clear indication he is leaving / has left our company…
Steve Thorne - BrainChip | LinkedIn
Senior Sales & Marketing Executive with 30 years' experience in AI and Data Center… · Experience: BrainChip · Location: San Jose · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Steve Thorne’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.www.linkedin.com
View attachment 90623
Well, the signs were there:
And I also took this to be a hint:
Why would our new VP of Business Development James Shields - rather than Steve Thorne himself - have posted on LinkedIn “I’m hiring!”, despite both advertised job positions “reporting directly to the VP of Global Sales”?
LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn
Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.www.linkedin.com
View attachment 90624
View attachment 90625 View attachment 90626
Also, it struck me as very weird that our company has to date not yet officially welcomed the new VP of Business Development, although he himself updated his LinkedIn profile three weeks ago and shortly after shared the news with his network…
Neither has our company commented on the recent hiring of Dan Ganousis as Director of Sales, yet. I discovered his new role by chance when checking out his profile on LinkedIn after I had noticed him liking BrainChip posts…
Now that the long US Labour Day weekend is over, can we finally (!) expect a company update?!
Further to Wednesday’s post above
.Looks as if we will soon see a LinkedIn post by Steve Thorne saying: “I’m happy to share that I am starting a new position as CCO with…”
Yesterday, he edited his job title in his LinkedIn profile’s header from “VP of Sales” to “Chief Commercial Officer”, but so far hasn’t updated the Work Experience section.
Steve Thorne - BrainChip | LinkedIn
Senior Sales & Marketing Executive with 30 years' experience in AI and Data Center… · Experience: BrainChip · Location: San Jose · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Steve Thorne’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.
Just a wild guess - could his new employer by any chance be Hailo, the Tel Aviv-headquartered Edge AI company our new VP of Business Development James Shields just left?
The reason for my speculation is this recent exchange of comments with Max Glover, Hailo’s new Chief Revenue Officer:
Hailo is pleased to announce the appointment of Max Glover as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With over two decades of experience leading global sales and go-to-market organizations in… | Hailo | 248 comments
Hailo is pleased to announce the appointment of Max Glover as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With over two decades of experience leading global sales and go-to-market organizations in the semiconductor and technology sectors, Max joins Hailo at a pivotal moment as the company scales...
“Thanks Steven- let’s compare notes soon!”
Hmmm, they obviously know each other, which is not surprising given that they were both concurrently working for Intel for many years, but the above remark by Max Glover struck me as odd.
So I checked out Hailo’s website, and it turns out they currently don’t have a CCO, plus a comparison of what their website looks like as of today with a screenshot taken on 4 August reveals that their Munich-based VP of Sales, Jan-Friso Blacquière, must have meanwhile left the company (although this is not apparent from his LinkedIn profile).
This is what Hailo’s Leadership Team looks like right now:
The Leading AI Chip Company For Edge Devices | Hailo
As a leading AI chip company, our smart edge solution bridges the gap between existing and future AI technologies and the edge computing.
hailo.ai
And this is what it looked like a month ago:
The Leading AI Chip Company For Edge Devices | Hailo
As a leading AI chip company, our smart edge solution bridges the gap between existing and future AI technologies and the edge computing.
web.archive.org
So they are sure to appoint another new VP of Sales or a CCO soon. We’ll see.
I don't know if Ghost Bat includes Akida, but the latest version has "improvements (which) included developments to the wing, GPS, sensors, mission payloads, integrated combat system and the autonomous systems."
Published today 20250905
https://www.msn.com/en-au/technolog...TS&cvid=cd86baf6faf8493e973e1682992a4b1d&ei=9
Hundreds of millions of dollars are set to be poured into Australia's "world leading" drone the federal government says can match anything China produces.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy visited South Australia's top-secret Woomera range on Friday, declaring he was "absolutely satisfied" with Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone.
But he wouldn't confirm when the aircraft can expect to enter service.
"I'm not going to get ahead of government decision making, but I will say that so far ... they've been hitting every milestone, and we see a definite role for this in the future mix," Mr Conroy said.
Following the first phase of testing's completion, the government is poised to spend about $500 million more on the next stage of the Ghost Bat's development.
The government is preparing to ramp up manufacturing capacity and buy more aircraft in addition to the 11 already purchased.
It is the first combat aircraft to be designed and made in Australia in 50 years, with $1 billion previously committed to its development.
Able to travel at just below the speed of sound, the drone is designed to serve as a "loyal wingman" to help protect and support crewed aircraft carry out a range of activities, including combat roles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_MQ-28_Ghost_Bat
The RAAF initially planned to buy three Airpower Teaming System (ATS) systems, as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP).[20] These three drones were built at an automated production line in Melbourne, Victoria.[12][10] The order was increased to six with an A$115 million contract days after the first flight.[21] As of 9 May 2023, the Australian government confirmed its commitment to funding 10 aircraft for the RAAF,[4][22] not including three prototypes that will not be owned by the government or operated by the RAAF. This takes the government's total investment in the Loyal Wingman program to over A$600 million. The uncrewed platforms are scheduled to enter service with the RAAF in 2024-25.[23]
In February 2024, the Australian Government announced a further A$400 million in funding for three more aircraft, built to the new "Block 2" standard.[24][25] The announced improvements included developments to the wing, GPS, sensors, mission payloads, integrated combat system and the autonomous systems.[7][26]
I'm not sure if the following is relevant, but it's not Akida.
This mob have been working on satellite swarms with AuDoD using Jetson:
AkulaTech
https://www.akulatech.com/nexus
Nexus-01 marks a bold step toward truly autonomous, Software Defined Smart Satellites.
Satellite swarms have a more predictable path than drone swarms, so Akula may not be working on Ghost Bat.
Published today 20250905
https://www.msn.com/en-au/technolog...TS&cvid=cd86baf6faf8493e973e1682992a4b1d&ei=9
Hundreds of millions of dollars are set to be poured into Australia's "world leading" drone the federal government says can match anything China produces.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy visited South Australia's top-secret Woomera range on Friday, declaring he was "absolutely satisfied" with Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone.
But he wouldn't confirm when the aircraft can expect to enter service.
"I'm not going to get ahead of government decision making, but I will say that so far ... they've been hitting every milestone, and we see a definite role for this in the future mix," Mr Conroy said.
Following the first phase of testing's completion, the government is poised to spend about $500 million more on the next stage of the Ghost Bat's development.
The government is preparing to ramp up manufacturing capacity and buy more aircraft in addition to the 11 already purchased.
It is the first combat aircraft to be designed and made in Australia in 50 years, with $1 billion previously committed to its development.
Able to travel at just below the speed of sound, the drone is designed to serve as a "loyal wingman" to help protect and support crewed aircraft carry out a range of activities, including combat roles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_MQ-28_Ghost_Bat
The RAAF initially planned to buy three Airpower Teaming System (ATS) systems, as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP).[20] These three drones were built at an automated production line in Melbourne, Victoria.[12][10] The order was increased to six with an A$115 million contract days after the first flight.[21] As of 9 May 2023, the Australian government confirmed its commitment to funding 10 aircraft for the RAAF,[4][22] not including three prototypes that will not be owned by the government or operated by the RAAF. This takes the government's total investment in the Loyal Wingman program to over A$600 million. The uncrewed platforms are scheduled to enter service with the RAAF in 2024-25.[23]
In February 2024, the Australian Government announced a further A$400 million in funding for three more aircraft, built to the new "Block 2" standard.[24][25] The announced improvements included developments to the wing, GPS, sensors, mission payloads, integrated combat system and the autonomous systems.[7][26]
I'm not sure if the following is relevant, but it's not Akida.
This mob have been working on satellite swarms with AuDoD using Jetson:
AkulaTech
https://www.akulatech.com/nexus
THE BRAIN
Australia's most advanced AI powered Smart Satellite
Nexus-01 is an Edge-AI payload designed and developed to demonstrate advanced on-orbit AI capabilities. It processes and analyses hyperspectral data from Level 0 to Level 3, and runs multiple AI models in parallel, to extract real-time, actionable intelligence.Nexus-01 marks a bold step toward truly autonomous, Software Defined Smart Satellites.
AI Supercomputer Onboard
NVIDIA Jetson TX2i with 256 CUDA cores and 1.3TFLOPS - the brain of the mission.Satellite swarms have a more predictable path than drone swarms, so Akula may not be working on Ghost Bat.
That is the first time I've seen them refer to Akida2, and confirms that they have continued to keep Akida in the loop. As part of the early adopters club, they would also be monitoring Akida 3 and GenAI.
TheDrooben
Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty Good
Would you rather a ChaptGPT thread or a @Frangipani thread ......I know what I would prefer.......selfless people sharing their own amazing in-depth validated research or a thread based on ChatGPT or other baseless rubbish.....????
Bravo
If ARM was an arm, BRN would be its biceps💪!
I don't beleive I was promoting something akin to Scientology or any other organised religion like that.
I was just making a point that I thought I could prompt ChatGPT with a level of confidence, that others might not have, by virtue of the fact that I've been around so long and have done so much due diligence and research on it - perhaps in a much more OCD way than others might.
What happened after we all found out that Arm’s Cortex-M85 and Akida could integrate successfully?
Nothing...
Why is that?...
TheDrooben
Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty Good
@Bravo you are an amazing contributor to this forum.....one of Larry's' favourites.....just not a fan of the ChatGPT rubbish......probably my university 'referencing" backgroundI don't beleive I was promoting something akin to Scientology or any other organised religion like that.
I was just making a point that I thought I could prompt ChatGPT with a level of confidence, that others might not have, by virtue of the fact that I've been around so long and have done so much due diligence and research on it - perhaps in a much more OCD way than others might.
What happened after we all found out that Arm’s Cortex-M85 and Akida could integrate successfully?
Nothing...
Why is that?...
Frangipani
Top 20
Hi @Fullmoonfever,
FYI: I already posted in detail about Dominik Blum’s presentation back in October:
https://thestockexchange.com.au/threads/brn-discussion-ongoing.1/post-439352
Here are two excerpts:
“(…) There was one slide that showed - amongst other things - various brands of neuromorphic hardware (ABR, BrainChip, Innatera, Intel, SynSense), including Akida 1.0 and 2.0, but none was mentioned by name. Same with the slide showing the EQXX: there was merely mention of the voice assistant’s keyword spotting having been realised on “a neuromorphic chip”, which was said to have considerably improved this function’s energy efficiency.
(…) To me the gist was that while MB considers neuromorphic computing a very promising technology regarding gains in energy efficiency (which will become more and more important on the path towards cars becoming fully autonomous), they are still at a very early stage of research - Dominik Blum literally said so. There you go, you heard it from the horse’s mouth. So don’t expect neuromorphic technology in any MB serial production cars in the near future. At least that’s what I took away from that presentation (…).”
Have a good weekend
Frangipani
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Frangipani
Top 20
From 13:13 min: “biking new Networks”
Although I can understand why the automatic YouTube transcript mistakenly recorded Dominik Blum’s “neural” as “new”, he very clearly (and correctly) says “Spiking Neural Networks” at 13:15 min.
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Could be!
Who knows?
There's something due any day
I will know right away
Soon as it shows
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